Railway-car truck



Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,561

I J H. E. DOERR RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed Aug. 1, 1924 15 tween the bolstercolumns,

Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

-UNlTED STATES 1,555,561 PATENT OFFlCE.

BARF/Y E. DOERR, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T .SGULLIN STEEL COMPANY,

. OF ST. LOUIS, MISSGURI, A GORIPORATION OF MISSOURI.

RAILWAY-GAR TRUQK.

Application filed Aiigust 4, 1924. SerialNo. 729,900.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, HARRY E. Donna, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Car Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a railway car truck.

As is well known in the art, that portion of the tension member between the bblster columns is subjected to bending stresses in addition to tension stresses. Consistent with other features of design, the distance beaccordingly,

should be reduced as much as possible and a proper'distribution of metal made throughout the tension member to counteract and equalize such stresses. In cases in which it is desired to increase the spring capacity, with all springs being located between the bolster columns, some special arrangement preferably is used for maintaining the distance between the bolster columns at a mini- 2 mum.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple truck arrangement in which the spring. capacity is increased, while at the same time the distance between the bolster columns and also the wheel base is minimized, the side frame made of maximum strength and minimum weight and ample brake clearance is provided. V

Another object is to provide a simple and efiicient truck of high spring capacity and in which the tension and bending stresses in the tension member are counteracted or equalized by a proper distribution of the metal. i y.

.Another objectis to provide simple and efli'cient means for pro erly anchoring the springs in the bolster and spring plank.

Another object is to provide a simple and eliicient truckof high spring capacity adapted to meet the various requirements under service conditions.

by means of the arrangement shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railroad car truck embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 22 of Figure 1.

mg such stresses, the tensionmember ly under the bolster columns, and also a These and other. objects are accomplished Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken in the plane of line 55 of Figure 2, a 1d Figure 6 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 66 of Figure 1. p

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that my invention is illustrated in. connection with a railway car truck including a tension member 10, a com- PIGSSIOII member 11, and bolster columns 12, all cast in a single piece. A spring plank 13 spans the distance between the side frames (only one being shown) and is. anchored thereto by lugs 14: extending upwardly from the tension member and pass ing into openings 15 in the spring plank. As shown particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings there are 7 springs 27 arranged in,

three transverse rows, the middle row in cluding three such springs and each of the other rows including-two springs. An increased number of springs over the usual number, accordingly is provided for increasing the spring capacity'of the truck. It will be appreciated, of course, that more or less than seven accomplishing the same purpose.

The tension member in addition to bein subjected totension stresses is subjects to bending stresses. The casting therefore, is somewhat complex in the tension member and particularly in the tension member between the bolster columns and just outwardly therefrom. In order to properly counteract the stresses set 11 in the tension member and to distribute t best advantage in counteracting and 'e ualizlittle outwardly therefrom, is box-shaped in section, that is to say, the tension member at such points has a bottom wall 16, top wall 17, and side walls 18, as best shown in Figure 4.. Outwardly therefrom, the tension member is U-shaped in section, having only springs may be used forirecte metal to the the bottom wall 16 and side walls 18 as best shown in Figure 3. Inwardly from the boxshaped sections, the tension member is U- shaped in section and relatively dee having the bottom walls 16 as shown in igure 6.

In other words, the togowall of the tension member between the lster column 12 is apertured as shown at 19, making thegsec-= tion lighter between the points in question. The upper ends of the U-shaped section of the tension member terminate in oppositely arranged, outwardly extending flanges 20 for providing an increased area for the increased number of sprin s. The flanges are widest at the mid point between the bolster columns 12 as shown in Figure 2, said flan es adually tapering off to a point outwargly f rom said bolster columns 12. By means of the various sections of the tension member between the bolster columns and outwardly therefrom, the metal is properly distributed to counteract and equalize the various stresses set up in said tension memr. Preferably, the springs 27 are seated in spring caps 21, the lower ones of which are provi ed with downwardly extending proections 22 fitting in corresponding opemngs 23 in the spring plank and the upper ones of which are provided with rojections 22 fitting in corresponding openings 25 in the bolster 26 which rests upon said springs,. whereby th e springs are properly anchored in place and are prevented from rubbin against each other to prevent wear thereo By means of the arran ement hereinabove described, a strong, dura 1e, yet li ht, truck side frame is providedin which t e spring capacit is increased and the distance between t e bolster columns and the wheel base of the truck are minimized, the sprin s'being anchored in a manner to meet all 0 the requirements under service conditions.

parts of the U terminating in outtflidly extendin horizontal flanges to provide an increase area for an increased number of sprin seats, a spring plank resting upon said anges, a nest o springs mounted on said spring plank, and caps in which said springs are seated and.having interlocking engagement with said spring plank.

2. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and bolster columns all cast, in a single piece, said tension member under said columnsbeing box-sha ed in section -and between 'said columns ing U-shaped in section to properly counteract and equalize stresses set up in said tension member, the upper parts of the U terminating in'outwardly extending horizontal flanges to provide an increased area for an increased number of spring seats, a sprin plank resting upon said flanges, a nest o springs mounted on said spring lank, caps in which said springs are seate and having interlocking'engagement with said spring plank, a bolster, and caps for said sprin having interlocking relationship with sai bolster.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and bolster columns, a spring plank having interlocking relationship with said tension member, springs carried by said spring plank, and caps in which said springs are seated and having projectin portions extending into apertures in sai spring plank for anchoring said springs.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and bolster columns, a sprinilplank having interlocking relationship wi said tension member, springs carried by said spr" plank, caps in which said springs are seai d having projecting lportions extending into apertures in said spring plank, a bolster, and caps having projections extending into a rtures in said bolster whereby are anchored in place.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 31st day of July, 1924.

HARRY E. DOERR.

said springs 

